Chapter 3: The Meaning of Forbidden and Love
The night sky shone bright with the twinkling of millions of stars. The rain clouds floated in the air, dancing place to place. The air was misty and fresh, about to begin with rain showers. He resorted to sprinting now, each step pierced the tranquil weatherly night. Sounds of leaves crunching under his weight were all that was heard as he raced to the forest where he was supposed to meet Mizuki. He was upset with the change of sudden events. He didn't make as genin while his other friends did. He tried really hard and thought what Mizuki told him about Iruka. If Iruka was going to have Naruto pass because of his father, then why was he not given a headband like his friends? He knew something was going on but not sure what. All he cared about was to make sure he became genin if it meant doing the impossible.
Naruto adjusted the scroll on his back as he stayed in the middle of the opened field. He found it hard to see in the sunless day as he waited impatiently for Mizuki. Naruto knew that he was a little early and decided to make the best of it. He sat on the floor and opened the scroll and began reading through the jutsu.
He blinked many times, trying to see if what he was reading was true. Most of the jutsu written were really high ranked and required a lot of chakra and good control of your affinity. Heck, Naruto didn't know his affinity and didn't' know which to attempt to do. Two names that he saw frequently were Uchiha Itachi and Hatake Kakashi. He scratched his cheek and wondered if this Itachi was anything related to Sasuke-teme. If he was, then Naruto would have more training to beat him. Kakashi on the other hand, he would have to beg him to teach every move that was written in the scroll to beat everyone and become Hokage.
He came across two jutsu that seemed to overlap each other, Bunshin Daibakuha and Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. Bunshin Daibakuha was written by Itachi and Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu was written by the Shodai Hokage. He read both of them carefully and with great interest as he looked at the hand seals at the bottom. Naruto looked down on his hands, seeing if that he was doing the seals right and concentrated.
Frustrated that none of the shadow clones appeared, he looked back down at the scroll, reading a smaller print under the seal: Though this technique allows duplicating the user and having the ability to retrieve any information the clone obtained, it also is quite dangerous. All of the clones are given an equal amount of chakra directly from the user. Which so much chakra used and distributed to the vast numbers of clones, the user will suffer from chakra exhaustion and internal damage.
Naruto took it into consideration and kept trying to do the jutsu. I can't give up now. How will I become Hokage if I can't even be genin! I won't give up, no matter what happens.
Several Hours Later
Naruto beamed at his shadow clones. Hundreds of Narutos looked back at him and had a big smirk on his face. They all turned to each other and introduced themselves. Some of the Narutos were getting annoyed by the other being called the same and started pushing each other. "Hey!" Naruto yelled, not wanting the clones to pop each other. "I have this awesome jutsu I want to try. Stay still!" He ordered his clones. They all nodded and waited for Naruto. He took a deep breath and focus on his chakra of one of the clones.
He grunted and the sound of an explosion broke out. Naruto was pushed back from the explosions, gush of winds wiping through as he hit one of the trees. The other clones popped as some tried to run but they weren't spare as the debris got the closest clones. He fell to his knees and looked up with a smile on his face. Bead of perspiration was dripping from his forehead as it fell to the ground.
As Naruto was going to fall on his face, he heard the sound of branches breaking. He quickly stood on his feet and perked his ear, holding his breath as the ninja came towards him. As he was going to perform one of the new jutsu he learned, he saw it was the genin teacher. Mizuki.
Mizuki raised an eyebrow as he show Naruto full of sweat and dirt. He was about to comment and decided not to. "Naruto, I see that you received the scroll from the temple. Tell me, was it difficult to obtain?" He asked in a monotone voice. He just wanted the stupid brat to hand over the scroll and be done with him. Once the scroll was in his possession, then he would make sure that the village knew what they did and how weak they are compare to him. He would no longer have to worry about the ninja clans and anyone else in the village.
Naruto sighed deeply, wondering if he should play along or show him the new jutsu he learned. He knew that he was going to be in trouble once he got home, but he could have fun. Shaking his head, he thought against it. "Mizuki-sensei, I know that you wanted me to steal the scroll."
Mizuki blinked in response. He thought he filled the kid with enough motives to have him not doubt him. He knew how much Naruto cared for Iruka and everyone in the academy, not wanting to let them down. Naruto had much to prove, especially how great of shinobi his parents are. Though, now that he knew the truth, he no longer had to hold back. He let out a sinister laughed and took out his large shuriken, pulling his leg to the side. "Naruto, here I thought you would be able to manipulate you much better. It would make sense you can't fool with the demon since they are the one that fools the most."
"What is that supposed to mean!" He yelled out, a habit of his. He was not sure if Mizuki called him a demon or he misunderstood. Though one thing was for certain, Mizuki meant business with the scroll, willing to fight him for it.
"That you are the reason why Iruka lost everything. You are the reason most of the villagers lost something dear to them. You're nothing more than a spoiled brat that caused chaos and destruction to the village." Mizuki yelled, the veins in the temple of his eye popping up.
Naruto took out a few shurikens and threw them aimlessly to Mizuki. He quickly dodged it like nothing and jumped on a tree branch, glaring at the boy. "You are weak compared to the likes of me. For the village and for myself, I'll make sure that you are destroyed." He threw his large shuriken and aimed to cut him in half. Shocked with the sudden movement, Naruto barely managed to jump out of the way, only getting nicked at his side.
He reached and touched the cut and show blood. He eyes widened and he looked up at Mizuki. He already took out his kunai and began throwing them at the boy. He was surprise how Naruto managed to dodge them. He reached for one more and throw at his right shoulder.
Being that Naruto was near the tree, the kunai went through his orange jacket and stuck him at the tree trunk. "Crap!" Naruto complained, kicking his legs in the air, attempting to let loose.
Mizuki stepped down from the branch, an evil smirk on his face. "Now Naruto, hand over the scroll and I'll consider letting you live. Only considering to let you live." He slowly walked to Naruto, ignoring the kicks that were being sent for him.
"Mizuki! Stay away from Naruto!" A voice yelled out, revealing to be Iruka. He was a little out of breath as he raced towards here, remembering how Naruto mentioned to him that he liked this forest where his parents trained him when they weren't busy.
"Ah, Iruka. It seems that you came too late. Naruto already agreed to hand over the scroll. Though, now that you know, I might have to kill you both." He said matter-of-factly.
"What!" Naruto yelled out, as he wiggled free from the kunai, ripping his jacket off. I should have just zipped my jacket down! I was an open target like kaa-san said! I have to protect Iruka now.
"Naruto, run with the scroll! Don't let Mizuki have the scroll! He just wants it to hurt the village." Iruka yelled as Mizuki turned to face Naruto.
Naruto knew that much but he needed confirmation about how there was not another part of the genin test. "What about the test? He said that if I were to take the scroll, master at least one of the jutsu, then I'm automatically promoted to genin!"
Iruka shook his head, carefully pulling out his kunai. "There's no such test Naruto, Mizuki was just lying to you to get the scroll. He always-"
"Now Iruka, let's not be hasty. Since we are now revealing about the truth and all. How about I tell Naruto about his little guest? He does deserve to know. It's sad how his father tried very hard to keep that secret away from him."
Sacred, Iruka threw his poisoned kunai at Mizuki, not letting him tell Naruto about the law. The kunai struck him in the chest and turned into a log. "Substitution. Naruto, I need you to run away and keep the scroll. Don't let Mizuki get the scroll no matter what!"
He nodded his head and dashed out of the clearing, pushing the branches and bushes out of his way. He only wished he was able to get the scroll back to the temple and help. How could I have been so stupid! I knew that this was a set up. I only hope that Kiyo-chan took the note to kaasan and they are on their way. Iruka-sensei is going to need help. As he was about to take out a piece of paper, he heard an explosion. "Iruka-sensei!"
He looked back and saw Iruka coming after him. He almost sighed of relief when he saw him but then looked at him appalled. Mizuki used a substitution jutsu when they were fighting back there, 'Iruka' could be Mizuki using a henge. He performed the jutsu he learned and multiple Narutos appeared, some running somewhere to hide.
He stopped and threw a kunai at him at his feet. "Hey!" 'Iruka' said. Naruto landed on his feet and glared at the man before him. "How do I know you are the real Iruka? Mizuki disappeared back there. I don't know to trust you."
"Of course it's me Naruto. Now hand over the scroll before Mizuki gets here. We need to leave before he finds out about our location."
Naruto stepped forward, taking off the scroll that was tied to his back and held it in front of him. "If you are the real Iruka, then answer this question. What is my favorite type of ramen?"
'Iruka' sweat dropped as if trying to remember if he had a favorite type and then smirked at an idea that popped in his head. "It's beef pork ramen." He said confidently.
Naruto put his hands through the seals he learned earlier, hundreds of Narutos appearing around the forest. "You're wrong. We don't have a favorite ramen. They are all too good to choose from." The clones spoke simultaneously, causing Mizuki to return to his real form.
Mizuki was irked that the brat noticed his henge. His abilities were far passed than the kids. It didn't matter that he was the son of the legendary Hokage known as the Yellow Flash and his wife, the Red Hot Habanero of Konoha. All that mattered was the skills acquired and mastered in this battle. He was going to end this but he wanted to do something to cause him more pain as well.
"With Iruka out of the picture, I can finally tell you about your past Naruto. Have you ever wondered why you were treated so special compared to everyone else beside that you are the son of the Hokage? It's because you are a demon Naruto." He said, not letting the boy speak.
All of the Naruto widens their eyes and pounced at Mizuki. "I'm not a demon!" He yelled out. Mizuki laughed in delight as he attacked all of the clones. "Yes you are. Twelve years ago, on October 10, there was an attack on the village, something you learned at the academy. On that day, the nine-tails, the Kyuubi attacked the village. What do you think your beloved father did in order to stop to beast?
It was too strong to be killed and they were usually sealed into humans. The only thing that could be done was to seal the demon into a human sacrifice to keep it from killing the village. He chose you and sealed the demon into you Naruto. Cause of that, you are the nine-tailed beast!" Mizuki said, laughing to himself.
"That's not true! My father would never do that! He loves me!" He called out, trying to explode the nearest clone to Mizuki.
"It's true. Why do you think Iruka didn't want you to pass the exam? You killed his parents and you are a danger to the villagers' children. He didn't want to be suspicious to your nosy father so he waited until the exams to make sure you never made genin." Mizuki finished destroying all of the clones that went after him and made his way to Naruto that fell on his back from the revelation. "I'm going to finished you demon child before your stupid family notices that you are missing."
He took out another folded shuriken that seemed sharper that the other one. Mizuki slowly passed his hand over the blade, admiring the metal. He pulled his arm back and pumped chakra to his injured arm and threw the shuriken, a malicious smile on his face.
Naruto stayed paralyzed with fear as he waited for the blades to slice through him. He silently closed his eyes, hoping it would be a quick death. He never thought his life could have been a lie. He had his parents who he thought loved him and a teacher that was willing to spend time with him, his parents always being busy and never spending much time with him or attention.
When the blade didn't go through him, he opened his eyes. Iruka was hunched over him, protecting him from the shuriken. "Iruka-sensei, why did you save me when I killed everyone you care about?" He whispered, tears in his eyes.
"Naruto, I heard what Mizuki said and none of it is true. I did lose my parents when the Kyuubi attack but that wasn't your fault. Both my parents cared for your parents and somehow capable of passing through the barrier you mom put when the Kyuubi attacked. My parents also wanted to protect the village, and it wasn't until after years I learned about it" Iruka said weakly, coughing blood at Naruto. He was surprise to arrive at the clearing with multiple Narutos and made a mental note that if he were to survive; he would make sure Naruto was promoted for mastering a clone technique.
"You lie Iruka! You hated the boy for what you went through! Just kill him already Iruka!" Mizuki said, angered.
"My parents died and I was upset and lonely. I never thought that I could forget what happened to them. At the academy, I started acting up and my grades fell. I became the class clown that everyone laughed at. I only wanted them to remember who I was unlike how they remembered my parents. At the end, I was in a depression all alone but when what I did came back to me, I knew I had to change. I knew that I wasn't the only one that lost their parents. I decided to then teach the children of the village to then help them. I never hated anyone, and especially not you. You help protect the village every day and I don't see you as a student, but more like I brother I never had."
The tears Naruto was holding back fell freely as Iruka fell to his side. "Iruka-sensei!" He went to his side, checking if he was holding up. The shuriken sliced through his back with a lot of blood dripping down his back.
"He is going to die either way. It's your turn now." Angered flash through the Namikaze heir's blues eyes, startling Mizuki. Naruto suddenly was surrounded by blue chakra, flickering around him that quickly started changing color, red stream of chakra flowing through. One of his blue eyes turned red, the pupil becoming cat like.
"Naruto, please run away. Stay clear from Mizuki" Iruka called out, coughing repeatedly.
"Naruto! Naruto! Son, where are you!" A desperate voice yelled, sounding louder the closer it came. "Namikaze Naruto!" It screamed out in outraged. The ninja raced in, her hair flowing. The kunoichi had her hair tied up in a high pony tail while the rest of her hair cascaded to her lower back. She wore her blue shinobi headband on her forehead and her normal dress with black tights underneath. She was glaring at the gray haired man that had her son endangered, waiting for him to turn around.
"Mom!" Naruto yelled out, wiping his tears away from his sleeves as the power he felt disappeared. Kushina narrowed as her angered grew from the sight of her son being upset and hurt especially how he seemed to be using the Kyuubi's chakra. Her eyes paled and her hair began to rise as chakra surrounded her, her anger rising.
"Suiton: Bakusui Shoha!" She roared as water blasted from her mouth and hit himdirectly. Mizuki flew to the trunk of a tree and Kushina took advantage with the water already available and performed her second jutsu. "Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!" From the water that came from her mouth, it turned to the shape of a dragon and drenched Mizuki from head to toes as the dragon bit him all over. The impact of the blast caused him to yell out in pain and grip his stomach.
Kushina wasn't satisfied as she watched Mizuki drop from the pain. She was angry that he manipulated her son, making him to go to the extreme and steal a forbidden scroll. It also saddened her how she knew why he would take the scroll. She knew that Minato and she were busy and she was going to make it her mission to have more time for their son and daughter. She loved her children to death and would not allow anything bad to happen to them.
"Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Kushina made two clone of her and nodded her head at them. One clone yelled out, "Suiton: Bakusui Shoha!" and the other clone yelled out "Suiro no Jutsu!" creating a sphere around Mizuki, covering his whole body. The sphere held him captive and did not allow him to move, being only able to talk. The clone that called out the jutsu placed her arm in the sphere to keep him captive. It was an imprisonment until the backup arrived and took him to the interrogation unit.
The real Kushina looked at her son and ran towards him, sitting down with her knees bent. She peppered him with kisses and put her hands on his cheek, putting some distance to look at him clearly. "Naruto." She whispered, taking off his goggles from his head.
"Mom." He said tearfully as she hugged her tight. "I was so sacred. I thought I was going to die but Iruka saved me and…" He choked and buried his face to the crook of her neck. Kushina swallowed a lump in her throat and looked at Iruka that was lying on the ground, losing a lot of blood.
She reached down for her radio and called in. "I'm going to need medical backup for Umino Iruka. He has a gashing wound on the back caused by a shuriken thrown at his back. He needs medical attention now!" She barked, pulling away from Naruto and turned her attention to the chunin on the ground.
Others ninja came and saw Kushina busy with Iruka, doing basic medical ninjutsu to help Iruka. Two anbu men that came along headed where Kushina's clone was and took over, expelling her jutsu. The water imprisonment dispelled and Mizuki landed on the ground, unable to move. Once the medical ninja came, Kushina grabbed Naruto and the scroll and headed for the sacred temple. She threw Naruto over her shoulder and held the scroll as she arrived at the temple. Few guards came and took the scroll, already being notified on the occurred events and went to place the scroll where it belonged.
Naruto, who was quite through the whole trip, stepped down from his mother shoulder and decided to go to the house. He waited patiently for his mother to finish talking with the other men and to go back home with her. Kushina walked out and sighed. Naruto looked paled and had a troubled look on his face. She was wondering what happened to him that has him in that current state. Her first thought was Mizuki.
Both Namikaze returned home is somber silent. Once they were into their house, they were ambushed by Kiyomi and Minato. "We were so worried. What happened? Are you okay son?" Minato asked worriedly as he got on his knee and looked at Naruto. They walked to the living room and Naruto told them what happened.
He told him about what happened in his genin exam, how he thought he did so well but that Mizuki came to him and told him that Iruka doesn't want him to pass. He told him how Iruka didn't care for him and how he told him how to overlook the exam and still pass with the forbidden scroll. He learned to make a clone and explode it. He told them about how they battle up to the point where his mother came, excluding to part where he was called a monster and that he was the nine-tailed fox in human form. The whole time, his little sister was holding on to his arm and hugging him, sacred to let him go for even a second.
Minato and Kushina were both upset and sad how much Naruto went through just in one day. He wasn't even a ninja yet he had overcame so much. Minato knew that he son did manage with his written exam really high. He wanted to wait until tomorrowwhen Iruka would try to stop by and to tell him that he became genin after all. Naruto should proficiency in the Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu and according to what Iruka heard, he learned to make them explode, a jutsu an anbu captain is known to do and mastered. After Minato heard that Kushina found Iruka and Naruto and went to go take care of the scroll, he went over to the hospital to question Iruka of what occurred. He was shocked to hear that Naruto learned how to do multiple shadow clones and explode them, both A ranked jutsus and couldn't be prouder.
He glanced at his wife and nodded his head. Minato quickly went to his office and got a headband and went downstairs back to his seat. "Naruto, you should so much bravery and courage today. I know for a fact that any other shinobi in your feet would hand Mizuki the scroll. The scroll itself is so important for the village. If it was caught in the wrong hand, then the secrets of Konoha would be revealed and it would cause many disputes. In your exams as well, you did well. I spoke to Iruka and he agreed with me so I am honor to say that you passed to be genin with your bravery and capabilities of learning two high ranked jutsu." He handed over the headband to Naruto and waited for him to take it.
"Congratulation ani. You deserve it." Kiyomi said, wiping a tear away. All three waited for Naruto to take the headband and saw he wasn't moving.
"I can't take it without knowing one thing." He spoke, looking at his parents.
Kushina looked at her husband and back her son. "Of course, what's going on?"
Naruto took a deep breath, gripping his pants with his sweaty hands. He closed his eyes, with his head bow, waiting. "Is-is-is- Do I have the nine-tail inside of me?" He whispered staying in his motionless posture.
Kushina jerked back as if she was struck and Minato had his eyes wide. Kiyomi didn't know what the nine tails was but for the reaction her parents gave, she knew that it wasn't good. She wanted to ask, but decided against it.
"Who told you that?" Minato asked, becoming dead serious.
"Does it matter?" Naruto shot back, venom in his tone. Minato flinched and looked at Kushina again. They both planned on telling Naruto about his 'guest' when he at least reached the rank of chunin or when it was making itself known. He was too young already and if they were to tell them, he would be with a heavy burden. Minato didn't want his son to be treated any differently; he had a law passed prohibiting the talk about the Kyuubi and who it was sealed in. The law was for the clans head and high ranked ninjas to keep the villagers safe from such knowledge.
"Naruto, before I can answer you that, I have to tell you the story .About how I use to have the nine-tails inside of me." Kushina said, getting a shock faced from both Naruto and Kiyomi. She sighed and fiddled with her fingers on her lap.
"I was born in born in Uzushiogakure, in the Village of Whirlpools. I'm from a once famous clan called, the Uzumaki Clan. My clan was very prominent in my village. We were distant relatives of the Senju Clan of the First Hokage. The Uzumaki Clan possessed both incredible longevity and life force. Our clan was very knowledgeable in the art of fuinjutsu, being both respected and feared worldwide for prodigious skills. Most of other villagers thought our methods were crude.
I was lucky enough to leave to Konoha to enroll in the academy at a young age before the destruction of Uzushiogakure, and later the Land of Whirlpools. In the shinobi war, other nation viewed our country as a too much of a threat to go uncheck. The remaining survivors fled.
I was brought to Konoha not only to enroll in the academy but also to be used; my sole purpose was to be the next jinchuriki, a vessel for the tailed beast. Like I mentioned before, my clan had special chakra, especially myself. I was born with strong chakra and my predecessor, Senju Mito who originally was an Uzumaki. The first Hokage's wife was the jinchuriki and a very powerful shinobi. I guessed it seemed appropriated. In the battle between Hashirama and Madara, Madara summoned the nine tails, gaining control of him. At one point in the battle, Hashirama gained control of the nine-tails in order to better aid him. Mito-sama sealed it inside of her own body, becoming the first nine-tails jinchuuriki.
From then on, the leaf took possession of the fox and as Mito-sama neared the end of her life, I was brought to the village as the new vessel. To be honest, when I learned the truth, I was speechless. It all had to be kept as a secret, only the third Hokage and the top village councilors. I felt suffocated and helpless with the pressure of being the jinchuuriki and the loneliness it came with. But Mito-sama said this to me: "Ultimately we were brought here to become the vessel of the nine-tails fox…but before the beast can be housed, we first must fill the vessel with love." I didn't know what it meant until Minato came in the picture.
Once I was the jinchuuriki, the Cloud Village wanted me too. They sent ninja to abduct me and to take me to their village where they wanted me kept. I was still young and scared that they were after me. I didn't have any strong ties with anyone because once I came; I told the class that I was going to be the first female Hokage. They didn't like it and made sure to torment me for it. They called me Tomato based on how I looked but then I would punish them until they went to the ground." Kushina giggled a little, blushing slightly too. Naruto leaned in more to the story, as his sister and Minato looked at Kushina in awe.
"That's when I earned a new nickname, the Red Hot Habanero. Well once I was in the hands of the Cloud ninjas, I lost all hope. I knew that the village would send a squad after me. Secretly, I took of strands of my hair and left a trail for them to find me. Nobody saw it but your father did. He came and rescued me. He told me that he noticed the trail of my beautiful hair. When he told me that, I no longer thought about being a jinchuuriki, but how much of a great shinobi Minato was." She stopped and blushed, looking at Minato. Minato smiled kindly and reached for her hand, kissing it. "From that moment on, I fell in love with your father and we got married and we got pregnant of you, Naruto."
Minato became serious as he looked as his kids. "Your mother was going to give birth to you in a secluded place from the village, as a precaution of the nine-tails. There was only a hand full that was given such important information, only the nurses that would be attending your mother, myself, watching over the seal on your mother and anbu ninjas on guard. Your grandpa Jiraiya was an exception as he was considered the only family we had. Once your mother gave birth to you, a masked man managed to break through all of the security we placed. He killed everyone who got in his way. He had you in his arms and I managed to take you way from him. I teleported both you and Jiraiya home so he can take of you.
Once I returned, I didn't find your mother anywhere. She was gone with no traces of the masked man. I remembered that I had placed something special in her seal, in your seal too. I placed my flying god technique within the seal, allowing me to instantly teleport to you anywhere."
Minato took a deep breath, and swallowed hard. He took him time to get over that he almost lost the family he had formed. He wasn't willing to let his family slip through his fingers so easily. "By the time I got to your mother, she had the nine-tails extracted from her. The main concern was to control the biju and to kill the masked man. I manage to wound the masked man and place a special seal on him which took his control over the tailed beast. Your grandfather came with the Third Hokage and helped me control it before it caused any more harm to the village. Before we could handle anything, your motor mouth of your mother came and contained the nine-tailed beast. We needed to seal the biju into someone and the only best option was to seal it into someone who would be able to survive the sealing and that had special chakra. It was only logical to seal it into you when you are an Uzumaki as well.
I wanted the best for the village and being Hokage comes with sacrifices. I knew it would be a point in your life that you would figure out about the beast, and was going to prepare for you to hate me, but I never imagine you would learn about it like this. I'm sorry I put this burden on you, but I knew you are the only one that would save the village, be a hero and protect the village. When we brought you home, we knew that you were going to be sought out for our enemies we made and for what you kept inside, so I was forced to make a law that kept it as an S rank secret. Only the heads on the clans know along with high ranked shinobi and anyone that were to tell you would be executed."
Minato swallowed a lump in his throat and said one last thing. "I will understand if you hate me and not want anything to do with me. This is such a heavy burden that I wished I never place on anyone, especially not you but it had to be done."
Naruto gulped the sadness stuck on his throat. He would never have thought his own father would seal a demon inside of him. He never knew why he would feel a burning sensation whenever he drew out chakra. He always thought that he was different than everyone else and was capable of recuperate faster because of his parents. Never in his right minds would he thought that he was carrying a demon and everyone he knew and love kept it as a secret.
He was going to get up and walk to his room but was stopped as someone grabbed his arm. He looked down and saw it as his sister. Her eyes were red and puffy with all the crying she did. When her parents told them what happened, she paid close attention and from the corner of her eye, she watched for her brother to react. It was hurting her to know that his brother been lied to since the beginning of his life but she knew how much it was hurting her father and mother that they had to do this.
She looked up at her, letting her tears fall freely. "Oniisan, please forgive otousan and okaasan. They wanted to help the village and protect everyone. It doesn't matter what is sealed inside of you because that's not you. You're my big brother that protects me when I see something scary in my closet or when someone picks on me at school and you're my brother that helps any of your class mates when they need help. Please, don't be angry." She got up and hugged him closely. Naruto returned the hug as the cried in each other. Wordlessly, Kushina and Minato got up and hugged their children. They stayed like that, neither of them talking until someone broke the silence.
"So I'm a hero?" Naruto asked, laughing to himself. Minato shook his head laughing while Kushina beamed at her son.
"Yes you are son, that why I love you and your sister." Kushina said, picking them both up and kissing them in the cheek. "Come, it's getting late. Time to go to bed."
They both groaned simultaneously as she carried them upstairs. Minato picked up the headband and kept it in his hands as Kushina went to tucked them in at night. He knew that his son went through a big step in his life, while the real test of life was about to begin.